The DS1312 Nonvolatile Controller with Battery Monitor is a CMOS circuit which solves the application problem of converting CMOS RAM into nonvolatile memory. Incoming power is monitored for an out-of-tolerance condition. When such a condition is detected, chip enable is inhibited to accomplish write protection and the battery is switched on to supply the RAM with uninterrupted power. Special circuitry uses a low-leakage CMOS process which affords precise voltage detection at extremely low battery consumption.